At around 6:45 p.m. tonight, after much ceremony and dazzling demonstrations, the public was unleashed onto the Worcester Common Oval ice rink for the first time.

Young skaters with Shrewsbury hockey uniforms on roamed the ice in a pack, at least until one or two of them wiped out on their bellies. Fathers and sons, mothers and daughters, older skaters and novices suddenly made the newest addition to the Common look like it has always been there. A woman unpacked an old pair of figure skates out of a tote bag, telling her husband she wasn't sure they would even still fit her. A few minutes later, she was on the ice, arms outstretched and smiling.

Brandon DeJesus came down with his family, and decided to give skating a try. He was having a great time, and offered “slippery” as his blunt assessment of the conditions.

Ryan Lu hugged the glass as he inched his way around the oval on brand-new rental skates. Like Brandon, Ryan was on skates for the first time.

“It's fine,” he said as he kept going along the glass. “It's a bit hard the first time.”

After three years of delays and false starts, the ice rink's opening was wrapped into the annual Festival of Lights tree lighting ceremony. As the public skate opened up, City Manager Michael V. O'Brien said he had his skates with him, but was “letting the dust settle” before he ventured out on the ice. He said it was nice to see the vision for the rink realized, and said the community deserves it.

“There are seniors out there, there are kids, and it's a cross-section of the community,” Mr. O'Brien said. “And that's what Worcester is all about.”

Lieutenant Gov. Timothy P. Murray told the crowd the rink fits in with the momentum building in the downtown area. But it's also reactivating the Common as a nice place to go, he said.

“It goes beyond the buildings and the facades,” Mr. Murray said. “To have places like this where people and families can gather and have fun.”

The crowd was treated to singing from the Seven Hills Choir, the Worcester Public Schools All-City Chorus, and the Quadrivium Ensemble from Burncoat High School. Members of the Special Olympics of Massachusetts made the ceremonial first skate, and figure skaters from Colonial Figure Skating gave performances.

Brad Vigorito, a Colonial figure skater, said the ice was in good shape. He said figure skaters don't often get a chance to perform outside.“It's every skater's favorite memory,” he said.

The rink is an extraordinary accomplishment, U.S. Rep. James McGovern, D-Worcester, told the crowd.

“This is a great city,” he said. “And this is what great cities do.”

Lindiana Flores and John Semidei stood in front of the newly-lit Christmas tree on the Common with their baby son, Gabriel, who was tucked in his stroller under layers of blankets. Ms. Flores, a lifelong resident, and Mr. Semidei, originally from New York, recently moved into the nearby lofts on Federal Street. Ms. Flores said that growing up, she saw the downtown area “completely die,” but is now excited to see so much going on. She hopes to see more arts and cultural events in the neighborhood.

“I'm really excited about what's going on downtown,” she said.

Deb Noble and her husband, Ted Theodore, were on the Common with Ms. Noble's grandson, Caleb. She said she was impressed with the festivities, and said the rink looked wonderful.

“What a great thing to bring your kids to,” she said.

According to the city, the rink will be open for public skating from 1 to 6 p.m. on weekends through February. Admission is $2, and children 6 and under skate free. Rentals are $3.

There will be lunchtime skates, sponsored by the College of the Holy Cross, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays.

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